General Motors said in a news release that it is recalling about four million full-size pickups from the model years 2000-2004 worldwide to replace tailgate support cables that may corrode and fracture.

The models involved are 2000-2004 Silverados and Sierras built between October 1999 and October 2003. Also, some 2002-2004 Chevrolet Avalanche and trucks built between March 2001 and October 2003 are being recalled.

Of the total, about 3.7 million are in the U.S., approximately 325,000 are in Canada, and about 93,000 are in Mexico, GM said. The remaining vehicles are outside these countries.

In the affected models, GM says it will replace the existing galvanized, braided steel support cables with stainless steel support cables. These replacements will be done at no cost to customers.

The problem is that, if the cables are corroded, they may fracture when loads are applied to the tailgate. If both cables were to fracture, the tailgate would open an additional ten degrees, rest on the top surface of the rear bumper, and remain supported by the bumper. The tailgate would drop to a lower position only if the owner had previously removed the rear bumper, GM said.

There have been reports of 134 minor injuries related to this condition, GM admitted, but no crashes or fatalities.

Due to the large number of vehicles involved in this recall, the replacement cables will not be available immediately, GM said, so the notification and repair process will occur in phases.

In the meantime, GM says it will advise owners to avoid applying direct loads to the tailgate until the cables can be inspected and, if necessary, replaced.

During the third quarter of this year, GM will begin notifying the first round of owners of the vehicles involved in this recall. They will be instructed to contact their Chevrolet, GMC, or Cadillac dealers to arrange for service.

GM said it will continue this cadence of notification and replacement throughout the year until all vehicles receive the stainless steel support cables. If an owner experiences a fracture of the tailgate support cables, the customer should contact the dealer to arrange for service as soon as possible, GM advised.

Ford to Buy Hybrid Engines From Toshiba

Toshiba, a Japanese company known more for electronics than automotive technology, will make hybrid motors for , The Associated Press reported.

Toshiba said its subsidiary, Toshiba Industrial Products Manufacturing Corp., would make up to 2,000 of the gasoline-electric engines in April for Aisin AW, an auto parts maker affiliated with Toyota.

Aisin AW will add other components to Toshiba's motor, which will then be used in hybrid sport-utility vehicle planned for later this year, the story said.

Hybrid cars combine a battery-powered motor and a gasoline engine.

Rebates Roll On

Even though automakers are "flooding showrooms with a wave of new cars and trucks," rebates are still being used to boost car sales to "stratospheric levels," The Detroit News reported.

Although Big Three executives have been counting on new models to wean consumers off discounts that averaged $2,906 per vehicle, up 31 percent from a year ago, discounts are showing up not only on slow-sellers and aging models, but also on new vehicles, the News said.

For instance, wagon, Buick's Rainier sport-utility vehicle and the Mercury Monterey minivan have been on the market less than a year, but they already carry more than $4,500 in incentives, according to New Jersey-based Autodata Corp.

"The days of being able to sell cars without incentives in this market are long gone — that's old and new models," Morgan Stanley auto analyst Steve Girsky told the News.

Among the lucky few models that command full sticker price are the new Pontiac GTO and gas-electric hybrid. The Dodge Viper, a cult favorite, also carries no incentives.

Although automakers have been increasing base sticker prices, as well as incentives, they are not able to halt an erosion in pricing due to incentives in the most competitive segments, the story said.